Your state guide · 2026
Delaware homeschool laws
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The short answer
Delaware treats a homeschool as a nonpublic school, so parents register it with the state Department of Education through its online Nonpublic School system and enroll their children.
Editorial category; see the guide.
Register before withdrawing a child from public school. Attendance is due by July 31 each year. State law requires the fall enrollment statement no later than September 30. Agency guidance: the Department of Education's reporting page says its enrollment window closes October 5 (or the Friday before if October 5 falls on a weekend), and it quotes an older October 5 version of the law. Agency guidance: the department also says families do not have to open a homeschool for a child who is 16 or older. No law raising Delaware's compulsory age to 18 has been enacted; the age range in law is 5 through 16.
See requirements for options and exceptions.
See the full guide for age exceptions.
Regulation level
L · LowView regulation data
| State | Category |
|---|---|
| Delaware | Low |
Your requirements
A practical checklist
“Not specified” means a single yes/no requirement is not explicit in the supplied information. Read each detail for options and exceptions.
Notice
RequiredRegister the homeschool and enroll each child through the Department of Education's Nonpublic School system (an EdAccess account is required), then file annual reports: year-end attendance and a statement of pupil enrollment.
Subjects
RequiredNot specified in state law for single-family and multi-family homeschools; District-coordinated homeschools: the subjects prescribed for Delaware public schools, using a superintendent-approved curriculum
Hours / days
Not specifiedNot specified in state law. The department says it requires no minimum number of days.
Testing / evaluation
Not specifiedNot specified in state law. The department does not give state tests to nonpublic school students.
Teacher qualifications
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
Records / portfolio
Not specifiedNot specified in state law beyond the annual attendance and enrollment reports. The department keeps no student records and recommends a portfolio of grades, attendance and test scores.
Immunizations
Not specifiedNot specified in state law
At a glance
- Register the homeschool with the state online
- Attendance report due July 31
- Enrollment report due September 30
- No state testing or hours rule
- Three homeschool types defined in law
Requirements at a glance
Read the details for your chosen homeschooling option below.
Open the full requirements table
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| Compulsory school ages | 5–16 |
| Notice required | Yes |
| Filing deadline | Register before withdrawing a child from public school. Attendance is due by July 31 each year. State law requires the fall enrollment statement no later than September 30. Agency guidance: the Department of Education's reporting page says its enrollment window closes October 5 (or the Friday before if October 5 falls on a weekend), and it quotes an older October 5 version of the law. Agency guidance: the department also says families do not have to open a homeschool for a child who is 16 or older. No law raising Delaware's compulsory age to 18 has been enacted; the age range in law is 5 through 16. |
| Required subjects | Not specified in state law for single-family and multi-family homeschools; District-coordinated homeschools: the subjects prescribed for Delaware public schools, using a superintendent-approved curriculum |
| Instruction time | Not specified in state law. The department says it requires no minimum number of days. |
| Parent qualifications | Not specified in state law |
| Tests & assessments | Not specified in state law. The department does not give state tests to nonpublic school students. |
| Records to keep | Not specified in state law beyond the annual attendance and enrollment reports. The department keeps no student records and recommends a portfolio of grades, attendance and test scores. |
| Immunizations | Not specified in state law |
How to start homeschooling in Delaware
To stay open, the homeschool reports year-end attendance by July 31 and fall enrollment each year. State law sets no testing, hours or teacher qualification rules, though one optional type of homeschool uses a curriculum approved by the local superintendent.
Choose your homeschooling option
Single-family homeschool. A parent or legal guardian teaches their own child, mainly in their own home.
Multi-family homeschool. Parents teach children from more than one family in one or more homes or other sites. One person acts as liaison and handles registration, enrollment and attendance reporting for all families.
Single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district. A parent teaches their own child at home using a curriculum approved by the local superintendent, who must confirm in writing that the child is getting regular and thorough instruction in the subjects taught in public schools.
Prepare your notice
Register the homeschool and enroll each child through the Department of Education's Nonpublic School system (an EdAccess account is required), then file annual reports: year-end attendance and a statement of pupil enrollment.
Open the official notice resource ↗Check when and where to file
When: Register before withdrawing a child from public school. Attendance is due by July 31 each year. State law requires the fall enrollment statement no later than September 30. Agency guidance: the Department of Education's reporting page says its enrollment window closes October 5 (or the Friday before if October 5 falls on a weekend), and it quotes an older October 5 version of the law. Agency guidance: the department also says families do not have to open a homeschool for a child who is 16 or older. No law raising Delaware's compulsory age to 18 has been enacted; the age range in law is 5 through 16.
Where: Delaware Department of Education. The public school needs the department's acknowledgement letter before it will withdraw the child.
View steps as a table
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Choose your homeschooling option | Single-family homeschool. A parent or legal guardian teaches their own child, mainly in their own home. Multi-family homeschool. Parents teach children from more than one family in one or more homes or other sites. One person acts as liaison and handles registration, enrollment and attendance reporting for all families. Single-family homeschool coordinated with the local school district. A parent teaches their own child at home using a curriculum approved by the local superintendent, who must confirm in writing that the child is getting regular and thorough instruction in the subjects taught in public schools. |
| 2. Prepare your notice | Register the homeschool and enroll each child through the Department of Education's Nonpublic School system (an EdAccess account is required), then file annual reports: year-end attendance and a statement of pupil enrollment. |
| 3. Check when and where to file | Register before withdrawing a child from public school. Attendance is due by July 31 each year. State law requires the fall enrollment statement no later than September 30. Agency guidance: the Department of Education's reporting page says its enrollment window closes October 5 (or the Friday before if October 5 falls on a weekend), and it quotes an older October 5 version of the law. Agency guidance: the department also says families do not have to open a homeschool for a child who is 16 or older. No law raising Delaware's compulsory age to 18 has been enacted; the age range in law is 5 through 16. Delaware Department of Education. The public school needs the department's acknowledgement letter before it will withdraw the child. |
Subjects to teach
- Not specified in state law for single-family and multi-family homeschools
- District-coordinated homeschools: the subjects prescribed for Delaware public schools, using a superintendent-approved curriculum
Sports & extracurricular activities
Not specified in state law. The department says athletic association rules (DIAA regulations 1008 and 1009) require full-time enrollment at a member school to play for that school.
Official forms & law
Delaware Department of Education ↗
Forms & guidance
Statutes
Questions, answered.
What do I file to homeschool in Delaware?
Register the homeschool and enroll each child through the Department of Education's Nonpublic School system (an EdAccess account is required), then file annual reports: year-end attendance and a statement of pupil enrollment.
When do I file in Delaware?
Register before withdrawing a child from public school. Attendance is due by July 31 each year. State law requires the fall enrollment statement no later than September 30. Agency guidance: the Department of Education's reporting page says its enrollment window closes October 5 (or the Friday before if October 5 falls on a weekend), and it quotes an older October 5 version of the law. Agency guidance: the department also says families do not have to open a homeschool for a child who is 16 or older. No law raising Delaware's compulsory age to 18 has been enacted; the age range in law is 5 through 16.
What assessments are required in Delaware?
Not specified in state law. The department does not give state tests to nonpublic school students.
Check the original
Sources and last checked
- Delaware Code Title 14, Chapter 27, Subchapter I (School Attendance Requirements) ↗Delaware General Assembly
- Homeschools and Private Schools ↗Delaware Department of Education
- Register for a Nonpublic School ↗Delaware Department of Education
- Annual Reporting and Data ↗Delaware Department of Education
- FAQs ↗Delaware Department of Education
- Nonpublic Schools Information Packet ↗Delaware Department of Education
Last verified .